Our Hope
Among Christians’ many blessings is hope!
A fundamental attitude among Christians should be hope.
Who is our hope in?
What do we hope for?
Hope in
We hope in God. We hope in Jesus Christ.
The God of hope. (Romans 15:13)
Christ Jesus, who is our hope. (1 Timothy 1:1)
Wishing or Waiting
When we talk about hope, sometimes we talk about what we want to happen, something we wish for. At times scripture does as well. For example,
I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long. (1 Timothy 3:14)
For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. (1 Corinthians 16:7)
But scripture shows that hope that is rested in God refers to what God has promised. Since God is sovereign, and cannot lie, all God’s promises are guaranteed. Our hope is for something God has assured but has not yet come. We are not wishing; we are waiting. We can be confident God’s future for us will come.
… it is impossible for God to lie… [so] take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast… (Hebrews 6:18-19)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Hope for
Salvation
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
We have salvation now since we (Christians) are saved from the penalty of sin. We are in the process of being saved from the power of sin as we learn to walk after Christ. One day we will be saved from the presence of sin.
Righteousness
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:5)
Inheritance
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18)
Heaven/Eternal Life
… the hope laid up for you in heaven… (Colossians 1:5)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Glory
God willed to make known [to the Saints] what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
Hope in this world
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28–29)
And more!
I urge you to slowly review these six items. Each is guaranteed to us, believers in Christ. We are waiting for them to be fully accomplished.
Rejoice in hope (Romans 12:12)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
How to realize your Hope
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
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Father, forgive me for when I am short on hope. I know You are faithful, that You are my Father. I believe Your word. Help me take hold of what You have promised. Help me be steadfast in trusting You, and help me apply Your guaranteed promises to my walk in this world.
